Ten midshipmen from the Iowa State Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) Cyclone Battalion traveled to the University of Notre Dame to attend the 20th annual Naval Leadership Weekend, Feb. 26-28.

During the weekend the more than 250 midshipmen from 33 NROTC units, including Iowa State, had the opportunity to learn from several high-ranking members of the United States Navy and Marine Corps.

The midshipmen got to meet and listen to Adm. Michelle Howard, Vice Chief of Naval Operations; Adm. Michael Rogers, commander, U.S. Cyber Command and director, National Security Agency/chief, Central Security Service; Adm. Bill Gourtney, commander, U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command; Vice Adm. Jan Tighe, commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. 10th Fleet; Rear Adm. Scott Stearney, commander, Navy Warfare Development Command; Sgt. Major William Sowers, U.S. Marine Corps Training command sergeant major; and Notre Dame professor Joseph Holt.

The guest speakers gave their advice on what it takes to be an effective leader and military officer. The midshipmen who attended, will soon commission as officers in the Navy or Marine Corps, and these new lessons in leadership will be immediately applicable in new demanding roles as officers.

After attending the leadership conference, many of the Cyclone Battalion midshipmen reflected on the unique experience they shared.

Midshipman 1st Class Leah Vander Boon, scheduled to graduate in Spring 2015 from Iowa State University, enjoyed Howard's speech because "she is an inspiration to all members of the military, especially females."

Midshipman 2nd Class Nick Fichter thought the conference improved unit cohesion and boosted moral. He was impressed by Roger's statement to "never compromise your integrity for the Navy."

Moral courage and standing up for what you believe in was also a common topic among the speakers.

"It was an honor to learn about leadership from men and women who have given decades of their lives to the naval service," said Midshipman 1st Class Levi Jorgensen.

Jorgensen said that his favorite segment was Roger's idea that "the Navy is not a job, but a way of life."

Midshipman 1st Class Connor Henkle said Tighe's advice on "how you do anything is how you do everything," showed how it might be a "daunting task to give your absolute best each and every day, but after this weekend it is apparent that a good military officer will find a way," he said.

Sgt. Major Sowers summed the leadership seminar up when he stressed the importance of a professional relationship between officers and enlisted. According to him, a good leader finds a way to take care of their Sailors and Marines and to create an environment for them to be effective ethically, morally, and professionally.

For more information about NROTC, visit https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/. For more information about NSTC, visit http://www.netc.navy.mil/nstc/ or visit the NSTC Facebook pages at https://www.facebook.com/NavalServiceTraining/.

For more news from Naval Service Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/.